The Northeastern Huskies played away at Babson Sunday afternoon, dropping their first points of the season as they move to 3-0-1 on the year. Babson picked up their first points after an 0-3-1 start to the season.
Northeastern started the game strong, scoring an early corner as Austin Birmingham’s service found Henry Mouawad in the center of the 6-yard-box for a flicked header into the far corner of the net. Northeastern looked comfortable early, but was not able to find a second goal. Tayeb Benjaafar and Dan Mattar found space down both wings, but Northeastern struggled to put together final plays in the attacking third, with a few shots sailing over the net and putting little pressure on the Babson keeper.
As the second half started, Northeastern’s play slowed down. Babson began winning more 50/50 opportunities and putting pressure on the Northeastern back line. This culminated in a Northeastern foul on the top of the box. Babson stepped up, placing the free kick directly into the top left corner to tie the game at 1-1. Northeastern scrambled for a response, again putting together wing play and struggling to get shots off. Northeastern began to press the Babson back line as they played out of the back, resulting in Dan Ryvkin picking the pocket of a Babson midfielder near the top of the box. Ryvkin calmly took a touch and drilled a shot low and hard on frame, just beating the keeper. Only a few minutes later, Babson would respond with their own pressure, intercepting a pass between the Northeastern back line and tying the game at 2-2 in the closing moments of the second half.
Northeastern left the game with room to improve on both sides of the ball. The Huskies look to rebound this week with a home game against Tufts B.